Packaging machine



at. 28, 1930. J. D. LANE 7 l-779,817

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1930. IJ, D LANE 1,779,817

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1930. D,LAN: 1,779,817

, PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 192; v s sneet s-sneet' s Oct. 28,1930.

J. D. LANE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct.

18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. D. LANE Oct. 28; 1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 28, 1930. J.D. LANE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 192.3 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 28,1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1925 8 Shees.-Sheet 7 J. D. LANE Oct.28, 1930.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed on.

18, 1923 8' Sheets-Sheet 8 r fl /M Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE EDWIN HQBEY, OF

NASHUA, mew nmrsnmn racnome momma Application filed October 18, 1923.Serial 110.8%,401-

This invention relates to machines for packaging relatively smallarticles by inserting a predetermined number or quantity in a box orcarton of relatively stiff paper board,

or like material. In the embodiment of the invention hereinafterdescribed the machine is adapted for packaging articles such as smallpieces of candy, but it will be understood that various other articlesmay be packaged by suitably modifying the means empoyed to segregatecharges from a mass of loose articles. a

A carton on which the machine is designed to operate is oblong andrectangular, and ineludes two relatively wide side walls, called themajor walls, two narrower edge walls, called the minor walls, tabs onthe ends of the minor edge walls, and extensions on the major walls fromwhich end walls and tucking flaps are formed. The carton is supplied.

to the machine in a collapsed or flattened condition, all its partsbeing arranged in two parallel layers, each including one major wall andits end extension, and one minor I wall and its tabs, the collapsedcartons being arranged side by side ina column which is fed to themachine in a raceway from which the collapsed boxes are detached one ata time.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable andeffective machine, adapted to automatically detach a carton from acolumn, open the detached collapsed carton, close it at one end to 'forma chargesupporting bottom, the opposite or upper end being left open forthe time being, feed a charge into the open end, close said end, andfinally eject the charged and closed box.

The invention is embodied in the improvements hereinafter described andclaimed.

Of the accompanying drawings form-ing a part of this specificatiomFigure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

- Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is .a fragmentary elevation, showing a rear view of the openingblades, an edge view of which is shown by Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a partial section on line 33 of Figure 1. I

Figure 4 is a similar section on line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a'similar section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar section on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similar section on line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similar section on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a similar section on line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a similar section on line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a front elevation, showing a portion of the carton raceway,and means for tucking in the bottom tabs of the cartons, the operatingmechanism shown by Figure 1 being omitted.

Figure 12 is a plan view, and

Figure 13 is an end view of the portion shown by Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a section Fi' ure 11.

igure 15 is a section on line 15-915 of Figure 11.

Figure 16 is a section on line 16l6 of Figure 11. I as Figure 17 i is asection on line 17 -17 of Figure 11.

Figure 18 is a section on line 1818. of Fi ure 11.

igures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are sectional views 85 illustrating steps ofthe operation of closing the lower ends of the cartons only by tucking,and without the use of glue.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view of the, delivering end ofthe raceway, showing the preferred construction when the lower ends ofthe cartons are closed only by tucking.

Figure 24 is an end elevation, showing the structure represented byFigure 23.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective View, showing the filletrepresented by Figures 23 and 24, as seen from a different point ofView.

Figures 26 to 32, inclusive, are perspective on line 14-14 of views,illustrating the steps of closing a glued carton.

Figure 33 is a section on line 33-33 of Figure 26.

Figure Figure 27.

Figures spective views, showing ton-opening blades, Figure blades justbefore their entrance into a collapsed carton, while Figure 36 shows theblades just after they have opened the carton.

The collapsed cartons are supplied to the machine, as shown by Figures26 and 33, and arranged side by side, closely packed together in asupplying raceway. Each carton includes two ma or walls a and b, and twomi nor walls 0 and d, the carton being longitudinally creased to definesaid walls.

The machine is adapted to act, as shown by Figures 26 to 29, on cartonshaving major end flaps a, b, at opposite ends of the major walls a andb, and minor end flaps 0' and d, at opposite ends of the minor walls 0and d, mechanism being provided, as hereinafter described, for coatingwhen desired one of the major end flaps at each end of the carton withglue, and pressing the glue-coated flaps against other flaps to seal thecarton.

The machine is organized to perform the following operations: The bodyof the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway (Figure 27) is firstopened and left open at both ends. The lowermajor flap a is then coatedwith glue on both sides, while inclined, as shown by Figures 15 and 28,and is folded against the lower minor flaps 0 and d, as indicated byFigure 29, one of itscoated sides being thus caused to adhere to saidminor flaps. The lower major flap b, which has no glue, is then pressedagainst the other coated side of the lower major flap, as indicated byFigure 18, and is thus caused to adhere to the latter. The carton isthus closed at its lower end, its upper end being left open to receive acharge of merchandise. The carton is then charged, and after charging,the upper end is closed in the manner above described, one of the uppermajor tabs being coated with glue. Finally the now closed and chargedcarton is ejected from the machine.

The frame of the machine, Figs. 1, 2, includes a base portion or bed 12,supported by standards 13. Mountedon the frame is a raceway 14, adaptedto support and guide a column of the collapsed cartons, and (Figure 2)provided with suitable means, such as a sliding presser 15, for forcingthe column forward, the presser being actuated in any suitable manner,as by a weight not shown, connected with the presser by a depending cord17. The foremost carton in the column is arrested-by spring detents 18,(Figures 23 and 24) on the side walls of the racewa engaging verticaledges of the collapse carton.

34 is a section on line 3434 of 35 and 36 are fragmentary perportions ofthe car- 35 showing the laced laterally by t e force exerted on theibremost box, to open it, as shown by Figure 36. The raceway 1Svertically adjustable by means of a dove-tailed slide 20 (Figure 2),

fixed to the bottom of the raceway, and movable vertically in a clampingguide 21, fixed to the base 12, and adapted by a bolt 23 and nut 22, tosecure the slide 20 at any desired hei ht.

'l he body of the foremost collapsed carton is opened and left in thecondition shown b Fi ure 36, by the mechanism next described eferring toFigures 1, 2, 2, 35 and 36, 24 represents a carrier vertically movableon a fixed guide 25, by means of a lever 26 Figure 1), pivoted at 27,and oscillated as ereinafter described, in a vertical plane, and aconnecting rod 28, connecting the swinging end of the lever with thecarrier. An arm 29, fixed to the carrier 24, supports a pair ofelongated vertically arranged inner opening blades 30, which arereciprocated in a vertical path by the carrier, said inner blades beingfixed to the arm 29, and having only a vertical movement.

A slide 31, (Figure 2) horizontally movable on guides 32, fixed tothe'carrier 24, supports a pair of outer opening blades 33, which arefixed to the slide, and are yieldingly held in contact with the innerblades 30, as shown by Fi ure 35, by a contractile spring 34, attache at35 (Figure 2) to the carrier 24, and at 36 to the slide. When thecarrier 24 is fully raised, as shown by full-lines in Figure 2, theinner and outer blades are in contact with each other, and their lowerends, which are beveled at their outer sides to collectively form awedge adapted to be inserted between the major walls of a collapsedcarton, are. movable in a path causing them to enter the foremost cartonin the raceway when the carrier is lowered. One of the inner blades 30has an extension 30, which bears on an upper end portion of the foremostcarton, as shown by Figure 35, when the blades are fully raised, saidextension constituting a detent supplementing the detents 18, inlimiting the forward movement of the cartons in the raceway.

When the descending blades (Figure 36) have partly entered the foremostcarton, so

The detents are ada ted to yield, or be dis-w that their lower ends areinterposed between i the upper portions of the major walls of thecarton, the outer blades 33 are moved laterally from the inner blades 30to fully open the carton. This movement is caused by the cocarrying theblades well into the opened carton.

The outer blades 33 (Figure 36) are provided with hooked ears or pushers42, which engage the upper edge of the upper maJor flap b, when theblades have partially entered the foremost carton, and push the cartonpositively downward to the position shown by F i ure 11, to locate thelower end of the carton in operative relation to the flapfolding meansshown by Figures'll, 12 'and 13. An-"element of said means (Figure 11)is a fixed ledge, having an inclined portion 44, and a horizontalportion 45. The positive downward movement of the carton causes thefolding of the lower minor flap d a ainst the inclined portion 44, asshown by otted lines in Figure 11. The lower minor fiap'c' (Figure 11)is at the same time inserted, without being folded, in an openingbetween the horizontal portion 45, and the inclined edge portion 46 ofanother fixed ledge having a horizontal portion 47.

This construction is designed largel to preserve the shape and to ensureproper olding of the flap 0'. It has been the practice heretofore toprovide for the folding of both flaps c and d by causing them each to bedirected against an inclined edge portion like 44. I have discovered,however, that while the flap d will be thereby properly folded, veryoften the opposite flap 0' will not be properly folded for some reasonnot quite clear. To avoid this trouble, I have provided the novel meansshown whereby the flap c is first dropped vertically intoaslot betweenthe members 45 and 47 and subsequently bentand folded as described.

The carton in the condition thus far described, is engaged by itspositive downward movement with carton-feeding or moving arms on theendless carrier hereinafter described, whereby the carton is moved inthe direction of'the arrow (Figure 11). This movement (Figure 11) causesthe minor flap c to move on to the inclinedledge portion 46, whereby thesaid flap is folded inward, and caused to bear on the horizontal ortion47. The partially folded minor flap is caused to move first, on to theinclined portion 46, whereby its folding is completed, and then on tothe horizontal portion 47. The lower minor flaps are now held in thepositions shown by Figure 28, on the horizontal portionk47, whichconstitutes acartomguiding trac The endless carrier above mentioned (Figure 1) is a sprocket-chain 59, supported by sprocket wheels 60 and 61,the upper stretch of the chain being below and parallel with thebox-guiding track 47, and supported b the horizontal bed 12. The chain(Figure 1) is moved intermittently by mechanism which may include thewell known Geneva movement, comprising arms fixed to a shaft and nectedby bevel having studs 63, a cam 64, fixed to the shaft and havingsalient curved faces 65, and a cam 66, fixed to a driven shaft 67,carrying the sprocket-wheel 60, and having radial slots 68, cooperatingwith the studs 63, and reentrant curved faces 69, coo erating with thecam 64. The shaft 62 igure 1) is congears 71 and 72, with thedriving-shaft 73, and is continuously driven and imparts, in a wellknown'manner, a stepby-step movement to the sprocket-chain, so

that a carton engaged by the feeding arms on said chain is moved step-bystep, and held stationary in different positions.

To the chain 59 (Figure 1) are attached at suitable intervals, baseplates 74, each having a pair of box-engaging arms 75, substantiallyperpendicular 'to the base late. One of the ase plates 74 (Figure 2? andthe pair of arms 75 carried thereby, is in position to receive thecarton between the arms 75, when the opened carton is forced downward bythe opening blades. The chain 59 is at this time at rest, and .its nextmovement causes the arm 75 to advance the carton in the "direction ofthe arrow (Figure 11).

When the carton is forced the opening blade ears 42, the lower majorfiap. a isinclined outward, as shown by Figare 14, by a fixed inclinedear 77, the lower major flap 5 remaining vertical.

The following movement of the carton downward by (Figure 11) by theendless carrier presentsthe flap a toe fixed curved rod 78, formed andarranged to hold the fiap at a somewhat increased inclination, and toleave portions of its opposite sides exposed, as shown by Figure 15, forthe application of glue there- I to by a pair of lower gluing rolls 80(Figure 3). These rolls are journaled loosely in bearings in one end ofan arm 81, which is pivoted at 82 to one arm of a two-armed lever 83.Said lever is pivoted at 84, and its other arm has a trundle-roll 85,held by a spring 86, against a cam 87 on the driving-shaft 7 3.

The oscillation of the lever 83 (Figure 3) I ber 90, which is secured toa fixed holder 91,

and has a spiral face '92, which at different portions of its length(Figures 16, 17) presents difierent inclinations until, as shown byFigure 18,'it is substantially horizontal, and presses the flap 6'against the'flap a, after the latter has been coated and folded inwardby a fixed curved rod 93. The condition shown by Figure 18 obtains whenthe carton has been moved toits third or filling position, one coatedside of the flap a being pressed against the minor flaps c and d 5 andthe flap I) being pressed against the other coated side of the flap a,so that the carton is closed at its lower end, and is ready to receive acharge, the carton being now held in position to receive a charge from achute 94, connected with the charging mechanism shown by Figure 7. Saidmechanism includes a fixed hopper 95, a rotary circular turret 96,having a hub 97, which is engaged with an inclined shaft 98, journaledin a bearing in a bracket 98. The turret is provided with a plurality ofcups 99, which receive material at the lower portion of the turret, andregister successively with the chute 94, to deliver their charges. Theturret is rotated by connections between the shaft 98 and thedriving-shaft 73, including a vertical shaft 100, a universal joint 101,and a worm gear 102, on the shaft 100, meshing with a worm 103 on thedriving-shaft.

a dovetailed vertical shank 104, which is adadjusting the turret, and inthe universal" joint 101, which maintains an operative connectionbetween the shafts 98 and 100 under all adjustments.

Charges in the cups 99 may be leveled by a rotary brush 109, rotated bya belt 110,.

driven by a pulley 111, on the driving-shaft, and guided by idle pulleys112.

After the charging of a carton at its third position, (Figure 8) theupper flaps are closed and sealed by means operating like the meanswhereby the lower flaps are closed and sealed, and including a pair ofupper glueapplying rolls 113, mounted loosely on the swinging end of anarm 114, which 1s pivoted at 115, to an ear 116, on a head 117. Saidhead is fixed to a post 118, adjustable vertically in a clamping socket119, secured to the bed 12. The arm 114 (Figure 8) 1s provided with atrundle-roll 120, bearing on a cam 121, on a shaft 122, journaled inabearing fixed to the head 117. The. cam is rotated by connections withthe driving-shaft, including a sprocket-wheel 123, fixed to thedriving-shaft, a sprocket-wheel 124, fixed to a shaft 125, j ournaled ina fixed bearing 126, 65 a chain 127 connecting the said wheels, a shaftThe bracket 98 (Figure 7) is provided with 12 8 geared to the shaft 125,and provided wlth a, sprocket-wheel 129, and a chain 130,

connecting the wheel 129 with a sprocketwheel 131, on the cam shaft 122.

The oscillations of the arm 114 present the applying rolls 113alternately to a roll 132',

contacting with a supply roll 132, in a glue tank 133, and to the uppermajor flap b of the carton, as indicated by Figure 8, said flap beingcoated on both sides preparatory to being united to the other upperflaps by folding means, whereby the minor upper flaps a and d are foldedinward, asshown by Figure 30, and the major upper flaps b and a aresuccessively folded inward until the upper end of the carton is closed,as shown by Figure 32. The upper minor flap c is folded inward by themovement of the carton, under, a fixed ledge, not shown, correspondingto the ledge designated 46 and 47 (Figure 11). The upper minor flap d isfolded inward by an arm 134 (Figures 1 and 6), on an oscillating lever135, pivoted at 136 to a standard 137, supported by a head 138, having astandard 139, which is vertically adjustable in a clamping guide 140,fixed to the bed 12. The lever 135 is oscillated tofirst move itdownward from the raised posis tion shown by Figure 6, and thereby foldthe flap d, and then return the arm 134 to said raised position. Themechanism for accomplishing this includes a cam 141, on thedriving-shaft, a lever 142, pivoted at 143, and having a trundle-rollbearing on the cam and links 144 and 145, connecting the level 142 withthe lever 135. The upper major flaps a and b" may be folded by fixedmembers similar to the members 78, 90 and 93, which act as abovedescribed, on the lower major flaps. Figure 1 shows members 78 and 93*,corresponding to the members 78 and 93. Figures 5 and 9 show alternatemeans for folding the major flaps of large cartons, in which the lengthof said-flaps is such that they cannot be advantageously folded by thesaid fixed members. Figure 5 shows an oscillating folding member 146,which is movable to the positions indicated by full and dotted lines,and folds the lower major flap, when moved to the full line position.The member 146 is operated by a cam 147, on the driving-shaft, and alever 148 pivoted at 149, a link 150, connecting the lever 148 with ashoe 151, to which the member 146 is attached, said shoe being guided bya fixed curved slotted bracket 152. Another member, not shown, similarto the member 146, may 'be employed to fold the lower major flap a.

Figure'9 shows a member .146, similar to the member 146, and adapted bythe mechanism shown to fold one of the upper major flaps. Said mechanismincludes the shaft 122 (Figure 8), a cam 153, on said shaft, a lever154, pivoted at 155, and having a no trundle-roll bearing on the cam153-, and a link 156, connectingthe lever 154 with a slide 157, carryingthe member 146, said slide be ing guided by a fixed segmental slottedbracket 158.

.The guide rolls in the glue tanks are positively rotated to cause themto raise glue from the tanks. Figure 4 shows the mecha nism whichrotates the roll 88, in the lower tank 89. The glue roll 132 in theupper tank (Figure 8) is rotated by similar mechanism, not shown. Theshaft 88 of the roll 88 (Figure 4) is provided with a gear 159, meshingwith a'gear 160, driven by a shaft 161, journaled in a bearing 162, onthe bed 12. The shaft 161 is connected by bevel gears 'with anintermediate shaft 163, journaled in a bearing in a fixed bracket 164,and provided with a gear 165, meshing with a gear 166, on thedriving-shaft. To permit horizontal adjustments of the glue tank, andits roll, the tank is mounted on a base 167, which is slidable on afixed horizontal guide 168, and the gear 160 is slidably engaged by akey and groove with the shaft 161.

After the carton has been closed at its upper end, it is ejected fromthe machine by the ejecting mechanism shown by Figures 1 and 10, andcomprising a plunger 170, movable in a fixed guide 171, and reciprocatedby a cam 172, on the driving-shaft, through a lever 173, pivoted at 174.One arm of the lever is pressed bya spring 17 5, against the cam, andthe other arm has a stud 176, entering aslot 177 in the plunger. Whenthe plunger is moved forward, it str kes the closed carton while thecarrier is at rest, with the closed carton inthe path of the plunger,and pushes the carton from the carrier aws between which it was located,lnto a chute 178, of suificient length to guide a plurality of cartons,as indicated by dotted lines 1n Figure 10. The cartons pass under aplate 179, adjustably supported by a bracket 180,

in position, to bear on the upper ends of the cartons, and exert aholding-down, or stroking pressure thereon, while they are beingejected. v

The machine may be readil modified to close cartons at one or both en s,by folding and tucking the end flaps without hung, or to close one endby folding andtuc 'ng, and the opposite end by gluing. For .example,

cartons formed as shown by Figures 23 and, 24, may be closed at theirlower ends, by folding and tucking, without the use of glue, and attheir upper ends by folding and gluing, each carton having'at the lowerend of one of its major walls, a tucking flap composed of an innerportion e and an outer portion f, the

flap being creased at g, between said portions.

The raceway is provided at one of its lower corners with a supportingmember, as a fillet.

14 (Figures 23, 24 and 25) which. projects forward over the carrier fromthe bottom of the raceway, and'forms a stop or support,

while they are entering the carton and be-- fore the ears or jaws 42engage the upper end ofthe carton to ush it downward. The foremostcartons at t e outer end of the raceway extend-out over. the carrierbeyond the bottom wall of the raceway, so that thefillet alone preventsthem from descending into the carrier. The fillet engages a lowercornerof the minor wall a of the carton, but it does not extend far enoughacross the raceway to engage the major wall a that is adjacent to thewall a. When the carton becomes opened by the opening blades, the majorwall 5 is caused to swim outward, from the position of Fi 23 or l filleteing formedto permit the major wall 6 of the carton to, readily slip'orbecome disengaged therefrom. The fillet 1 1 can not, therefore, obstructthe downward movement of the opened carton when the jaws 42 commence topush the carton downward.

en the carton has the tucking flap e, f, T substitute for the foldingmeans shown by Figures 14 to 18,- inclusive, the meansshown by Figures19, 20, 21 and 22, including a member 90., having a spiral face 92, anda member 90", located beside a portion of the member 90. Said membersare adapted to first incline the flap portion f, as shown by Figures 19and 20, and then lncline the flap portions f and 6, until the portion fis packed within the carton, as shown by Figure 22.

The main shaft 73 may be driven by a driving-shaft 182 (Figures 1 and2), and connections such as sprocket wheels 183 and 184 on said shafts,and a sprocket-chain 185, connecting said wheels. The lever 26 whichreciprocates theslide 24, carrying the open ing blades,,may beoscillated by an eccentric wrist-pin 187 (Figures 1 and 2), on a disk188, entering a slot 189 in the lever 26. The disk 188 is fixed to ashaft 190, journaled in a fixed bearing 191, and provided with a gear192, meshing with agear 193, on the main shaft 73. r a

The connecting-rod which connects the lever 26 with the slide length topermit the height of the slide and of the'opening blades to be raised,when they are fully raised, thus adapting the blades to boxes ofdifferent sizes. As shown by Figure 2, the connecting-rod includes twotelescopic sections 28 and 28; The tubular section 28 is contractible atits upper end, and is adapted to be contracted on the section 28, andpositively grip the latter.

The extent of the lateral movement of the outer opening blades 33, awayfrom the inner blades 30, is determined by the proportions of the cam39, hence by modifying said cam, as by substituting for one of a givensize 24, is adjustable in ig. 26 to that of Fig. 27, the

' combination, means for releasably con ning a flattened carton in apredetermined position, and carton-openin mechanism including inner andouter blades, adapted to simultaneously enter the carton and partiallyopen the same, the inner blades being movable in an invariable .path,and the outer blades being normally in contact with the inner blades andlaterally movable .therefrom, means for reciprocating the bladesendwise, and blade-separating means actuated by an endwise movement ofthe blades in one direction, to move the outer blades laterally whilethey are moving endwise, and thereby complete the opening of the carton.

2. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 1, the saidblade-separating means being embodied in a fixed cam having an inclinedface and a longitudinal face, and a slide carrying the said outerblades, and yieldingly held in position to cooperate successively withthe cam faces, the extent of the lateral movements of the outer bladesspring-pressed slide movable on the carrier being determined by the cam,so that the blades .may be adapted to open cartons of difierent sizes bymodifications of the cam.

3. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 1, the saidouter blades being provided with lugs, adapted to engage a carton, andimpart a positive movement thereto. 7

4; A packaging machinecomprisin in combination, means for releasably conning a flattened carton in a predetermined position, and carton-openingmechanism including a carrier movable in a predetermined path, means forreciprocating the carrier, a

in a path transverse to the path of the carrier, inner opening bladesfixed to the carrier, outer opening blades fixed to the slide, andnormally held thereby in contact with the inner blades, and a fixed camlocated in the path of the slide and having guiding faces adapted tocooperate with the slide in laterally movinlg'and guiding the outerblades.

5. A pac aging machine comprisin a carton raceway, a support therefor,aving means for vertically adjusting the raceway, and holding it at anyposition to which it may be adjusted, the raceway being provided withmeans for releasably confimn a flattened carton at its outer end, ancarton opening mechanism including inner and outer blades, adapted tosimultaneously enter the foremost carton in the raceway, and partiallyopen the same, means for reciprocating the blades endwise, the innerblades being movable in an unvarying path, and the outer blades beingnormally in contact with the inner blades, and laterally movabletherefrom, and blade-separating means effective upon an endwise movementto move the outer blades laterally, and thereby complete the opening ofthe carton, said separating means including a fixed cam which determinesthe extent of the said lateral movement, so that the opening blades maybe adapted to open cartons of different sizes, by modifications of thecam.

6. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, the saidblade-reciprocating means being adjustable to vary the height of theblades when they are raised.

7. A ackaging machine substantially as specifie by claim 5, comprisingalso an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to con- -vey an openedcarton from the opening 8. A packaging machine substantially asspecified by claim 5, comprising also an intermittently moving carrier,adapted to convey an opened carton from the opening mechanism, a glue-aplying mechanism, adapted to coat a major ap at one end of a, cartonengaged with said carrier, means being provided for adjusting saidgluing mechanism to conform the same to cartons of different sizes, andfor positively supporting said mechanism at any position to which it maybe adjusted.

9. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5, comprisingalso an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive an openedcarton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism, adapted tocoat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged with saidcarrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap atthe upper end of said carton.

10. A packaging machine substantially as specified by claim 5,comprising also an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive anopened carton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism,adapted to coat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged withsaid carrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a majorflap at the upper end of said carton, means being provided forvertically adjusting the upper gluing mechanism, and positivelysupporting the same at any position to which it may be adjusted.

11. A ackaging machine substantially as specified y claim 5, comprisingalso an intermittently moving carrier, adapted to receive an openedcarton from the opening mechanism, a lower gluing mechanism, adapted tocoat a major flap at the lower end of a carton engaged with saidcarrier, and an upper gluing mechanism, adapted to coat a major flap atthe upper end of said carton, provided for horizontally adjusting thelower gluing mechanism, and positively supporting the same at anyposition towhich it may be adjusted.

12. In a packaging machine, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality offlattened cartons, and provided'with means for releasably confining theforemost carton at the outer end of the raceway, and with a filletprojecting from one of the lower corners of the raceway, and adapted tosupport an edge portion of the foremost carton, after the latter hasbeen moved outward from the bottom of the racewa 1 A. packaging machinehavin in combination, a raceway adapted to hold a plurality of cartonsthat are collapsed so that two adjacent walls of each carton require tobe moved relatively to each other to open the cart-on, a carton carrierdisposed below and forward of the bottom of the raceway, means forreleasably confining the foremost carton at-the outer end of the racewaybeyond the bottom of the raceway and over the carrier, a suitablyfashioned supporting member projecting forward over the carrier from oneof the lower corners of the raceway and adapted to be engaged by thelower end of one of the walls of the foremost carton and so as not to beengaged by a wall adjacent to the said one wall, carton openingmechanism, and means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to causeit to enter the foremost collapsed carton at the upper end of the cartonand to move the said one wall out of engagement with the supportingmember to open the carton and to release the carton from the raceway anddeposit the opened carton in the carrier, the supporting member beingadapted to support the collapsed carton and prevent its movement intothe carrier during the opening of the carton by the carton-openingmechanism.

14. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plural ity of cartons that are collapsed so that two adjacentwalls of each carton require to be moved relatively to each other toopen the carton, means for releasably confining the foremost carton atthe outer end of the raceway, a suitably fashioned supporting memberprojecting from one of the lower corners of the raceway and adapted tobe engaged by the lower end of one of the walls of the foremost cartonand so as not to be engaged by a walladjacent to the said one wall,cartonopening mechanism, and means for actuating the carton-openingmechanism to cause it to enter the foremost collapsed carton at theupper end of the carton and to move the said one wall out of engagementwith the supportmeans being.

, lapsed cartons,

ing member. to open the cal-ten, the supporting member being adapted tosupport the carton during the opening of the carton by thecarton-opening mechanism.

15. A packaging'machine having, in combination, carton-opening mechanismfor opening cartons that are collapsed so that two ad acent walls ofeach carton require to be moved relatively to each other to open thecarton,*a suitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to beengaged by one end of one of the walls of a collapsed carton and so asnot to be engaged by a wall adjacent to the said one wall, and means foractuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause it to enter thesupporting member-engaged carton at the other end of the said carton andto move the said one wall out of engagement with the supporting memberto open the carton,

the supporting member 'being adapted to support the carton during theopening of the carton by the carton-opening mechanism.

16. A machine for opening cartons that it are collapsed so that twoadjacent walls of the carton require to be moved relatively to eachother to open the carton, the said machine having, in combination,asuitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to be engaged byone end of one of the-walls of a collapsed carton and so as not to be awall adjacent to the said one wall, and means for moving the said onewall out of engagement with the supporting member to open the carton,the supporting member being adapted to support the carton during theoperation of the, moving means.

17. A machine for operating on articles comprising two walls adapted tofold relatively to each other, the said machine having, in combination,a suitably fashioned supporting member positioned so as to be engaged byone end of one of the walls of the article and so as not to be engagedby the other wall, and means for folding the said one wall relatively tothe said other wall to move the said one Wall out of engagement'with thesupporting member, the supporting member being adapted to support thesaid one wall during the actuation of the folding means.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a suitablyfashioned supporting member adapted to be engaged by an end of anarticle, and means for actuating the article out of engagement with thesupporting member, the supporting member being adapted to support thearticle during the operation of the actuating means.

19. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons, carton-opening mechanism adaptedto occupy a normal posi engaged by rlot) tion in which it is ineffectiveto open the colthe carton-opening mechamsm being operative when in thenormal position to releasably confine the foremost bination, a racewayadapted to ho collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway, andmeans for actuating the cartonopening mechanism from the normal positionto cause it to enter the said foremost collapsed carton and to open thecarton.

20. A packaging machine havin in com- 11% a plurality of collapsedcartons, carton-opening mechanism adapted to occupy a normal posi tionin which it is ineffective to open the col-' lapsed cartons andcomprising an opening blade having a portion adapted to engage theforemost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway to releasablyconfine the foremost carton in the raceway, and means for actuating thecarton-opening mechanism from the normal position to cause it to enterthe said foremost collapsed carton and to open the carton.

21. A packagin machine having, incombination, means %or confining acollapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, and means foractuating the blades as a unit to cause them to enter the collapsedcarton and for actuating one of the blades relatively to another bladeto open the carton.

22. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for confining acollapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, means normallymaintaining the blades in a relative position in which they are adaptedto enter the collapsed carton. means for actu-..

ating the blades while in the said relative position to cause them toenter the collapsed carton, and means operable after the blades haveentered the collapsed carton to effect a relative actuation of theblades to cause the blades to open the collapsed carton;

23. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for confining acollapsed carton, a plurality of carton-opening blades, spring means fornormally maintaining the blades yieldingly in a relative position inwhich they are adapted to enter the collapsed carton, means foractuating the blades while in the said relative position to cause themto enter the collapsed carton, and a cam for effecting a relativeactuation of the blades in opposition to the force exerted by the springmeans to cause the blades after they have entered the collapsed cartonto open the collapsed carton.

24. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons, a carton carrier, carton-openingmechanism, means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause itto enter the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the racewayand to open the same and to deposit the opened carton in the carrier ata predetermined position in the travel of the carrier, means foractuating the carrier, means for closing the bottom-of the carton andmeansfor charging the cartons at a second predetermined position in thetravel of the carri r.

25. A packaging mabhine havin in combination, a raceway adapted to hol alurality of collapsed cartons in substantial y vertical position, acarrier, vertically reciprocating carton-opening mechanism for openingthe foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of the raceway anddepositing the opened carton in vertical position in the carrier, meansfor actuating the carrier to cause the opened carton to travel past fourpredetermined points while maintaining its vertical position, meanssituated at the first predetermined point in the travel of the carrierfor closing the bottom of the carton, means situated at the secondpredetermined point in the travel of the carrier adapted to permitarticles to fall by gravity into the carton to charge the carton, meanssituated at thethird predetermined point in the travel of the carrierfor closing the to of the carton, and

means situated at the ourth predetermined point in the travel of thecarrier for ejecting the closed carton.

26. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted to'hold a plurality of cartons that are collapsed so that two adjacentwalls of each carton require to be moved relatively to eachother to openthe carton, a carton carrier disposed below and forward of the bottom ofthe raceway, means for releasably confining the foremost carton at theouter end of the raceway beyond the bottom of the raceway and overthecarrier, a fillet projecting forward over the carrier from one of thelower corners of the raceway and adapted to be engaged by the lower endof one of the walls of the foremost carton and so as not to be engagedby a wall adjacent to the said one wall, a plurality of carton-openingblades, and means for actuating the blades as a unit and for actuatingone of the blades relative to another blade to cause the blades to enterthe foremost collapsed carton at the upper end of the carton and to movethe'said one wall out of engagement with the fillet to open the cartonand to release the carton from the raceway and deposit the opened cartonon the carrier, the

- fillet being adapted to support the collapsed carton and prevent itsmovement into the carrier during the opening of the carton by thecarton-opening blades.

27. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, a carton carrierdisposed below and forward of the bottom of the raceway, means forreleasably confining the foremost carton at the outer end of the racewaybeyond the bottom of the raceway and over the carrier, carton-openingmechanism, means for actuatmg the carton-opening mechanism to cause itto enter the foremost collapsed carton and I to open the carton and torelease the carton rality of carton-opening blades,

from the raceway and deposit the opened carton on the carrier, means foractuating the carrier, and means situated at a predetermined position inthe travel of the carrierfor gluing both sides of a flap, the said meanscomprising two gluing rolls, and means for actuating the gluing rolls asa unit and respectively into and out of contact wlth opposite sides ofthe flap at the predetermined position. 1

28. A packaging machine having, 1n combination, a carrier for carryingcartons having 0 en ends, one of the open ends beingprovi ed with endflaps, means for actuating the carrier to cause the open cartons totravel past three predetermined points, two gluing rolls situated at thefirst predetermined point in the travel of the carrier for respectivelygluing the opposite sides of one of the flaps, means for bodilyactuating the gluing rolls respectively into and out of contact with theopposite sides of the flap at the said first predetermined position,means for folding the flaps to close the said one open end of thecarton, means situated, at the second predetermined point in the travelof the carrier for charging the carton, and means situated at the thirdpredetermined point in the travel of the carrier for closing the otherend of the carton.

29. A packaging machine having, in combination, a carrier for carryingcartons having openends provided with end flaps, means for actuating thecarrier to cause the open cartons to travel past three predeterminedpoints, two gluing rolls situated at the first predetermined point inthe travel of the carrier for respectively gluing the opposite sides ofone of the flaps at one end of the carton, means for bodily actuatin thegluing rolls respectively into and out 0 contact with the opposite sidesof the said one flap at the said first predetermined position, means forfolding the flaps at the said one end of the carton to close the saidone end of the carton, means situated at the second predetermined pointin the travel of the carrier for charging the carton, two gluing rollssituated at the third predetermined point in the travel of the carrierfor respectively gluing the opposite sides of one of the flaps at theother end of the carton. means for bodily actuating the secend-namedgluing rolls respectively into and out of contact with the oppositesides of the last-named flap at the said third predetermined position,and means for folding the flaps at the said other end of the carton toclose the said other end of the carton.

30. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons, a carrier, a plumeans normallymaintaining the blades in a relative position in which they are adaptedto enter opened carton on the carrier, means for actuating the carrierto cause the opened carton to travel past four predetermined points,means situated at the first predetermined point in the travel of thecarrier for closing one end of the carton, means situated at the secondpredetermined point in the travel of the carrier for char ing thecarton, means situated at the thircf predetermined point in thetravel'of the carrier for closing the other end of the carton, and meanssituated at the fourth predetermined point in the travel of the carrierfor ejecting the closed carton. v

31. A packaging machine having, in combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, carton-openingmechanism, means for actuating the carton-opening mechanism to cause itto enter the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway and to open thecarton, a carrier for carrying the opened cartons, means for actuatingthe carrier, two means situated at a predetermined position in thetravel of the carrier for respectively gluing both sides of a flap,two'means as a unit respectively into and out of contact with oppositesides of the flap at the predetermined position.

32. A packaging machine having, in com.- bination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons having end flaps, a plurality ofcarton-opening blades, means for actuating the blades as a unit to causethem to enter the foremost collapsed carton in the raceway. and to openthe carton, a carrier for! car ing the opened cartons, means foractuating the carrier, and means situated at a predetermined position inthe travel of the carrier for gluing both sides of a flap, the saidmeans comprising two gluing rolls, and means for actuating the gluingrolls as a unit and respectively intoand out of contact with oppositesides of the flap at the predetermined position.

33. A packaging machine having, in .combination, a raceway adapted tohold a plurality of collapsed cartons in substantially verticalposition, a carrier, vertically reciprocating carton-openng mechanismfor opening the foremost collapsed carton at the outer end of theraceway and depositing the opened carton in vertical position on thecarrier, the opened carton having four walls each having an end flap,means for actuating the carrier to cause the carrier to carry the openedcarton with the end flaps extending from the carton. walls while thecarton mainand means for actuating the said tains its vertical position,two means situated at a predetermined point in the travel of the carrierfor res ectively gluing both sides of a flap exten 'ng from one of thewalls, and means for actuating the said two means as a unit respectivelyinto and out of contact with opposite sides of the flap at thepredetermined position in a direction towards and from the said one walland between thetwo flaps disposed on opposite sides of the said flap.

34. A packing machine having, in combination, a carrier for advancing anopen carton, having a plurality of foldable flaps to close the carton,means adjacent the carrier including an angularly positioned flapturning device for turning one flap and a progressively inclined memberfor turning a second flap; means for actuating the carrier, and meansoperable at a later point in the travel of the carrier for folding amajor flap, said means comprising a flap folding member adapted totravel in a curved path, a shoe for actuating the folding member intoengagement with the major flap to fold the same, and a curved guide forguiding the shoe during actuation of the folding member.

35. A packaging machine having, in combination, a carrier for advancingan open carton, the ends of which are provided with a plurality offoldable flaps, means adjacent the carrier including an inclined flapturning device for a lower flap, a slot to receive an opposite lowerflap, a shoulder adjacent the slot to turn a major flap as the carton isfed by the carrier forwardly, and means operable at a subsequent pointin the travel of the carrier for folding another major flap, the saidmeans comprising a folding member having a guiding shoe, means foractuating the folding member in engagement with the flap to fold thesame, and a curved guide for guiding the shoe during actuation of thefolding member.

36. A packaging machine having, in combination a raceway adapted to holda plu rality of collapsed carries, a cartoii carrier, carton openingmechanism including a plurality of opening blades relatively positionedsubstantially to correspond to the shape of the open carton, means foractuating the carton opening mechanism to cause it to enter the foremostcollapsed carton at the end of the raceway to open the same and depositthe carton in the carrier, means for closing the bottom of the carton,means for charging the carton.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

- JOHN D. LANE.

